Would you peg Rapids chief Gary Smith an optimist? There he was after a relieving scoreless draw with the Revolution in New England on Saturday, sounding pleased.

For a team that shot to the top of the MLS table with three season-opening victories — and a barrage of goals — before falling back to earth as losers of three games in four tries, the Rapids are in solid shape in the MLS West.

Colorado has earned points in its past three games, twice on the road, including a 1-1 draw with Chicago in Commerce City, a 2-1 victory over the Dynamo in Houston and Saturday’s 0-0 tie with the Revs.

Colorado (4-3-2, 14 points) trails conference-leading Los Angeles by just two points, and rival Salt Lake by just one.

And this with a hampering of injuries and missed time.

“We’re going through a difficult period, as you can see,” Smith said Saturday. “If we can just keep adding points to the board, we will come good. Those bodies will be back. And we’ll be in a good position and all the better for it.”

The Rapids on Saturday were without striking duo Omar Cummings (ankle) and Conor Casey (hamstring). And replacement Caleb Folan left in the first half with a strained right groin. Add that to Brian Mullan’s suspension absence, and recent injury to, among others, Quincy Amarikwa.

Still, the Rapids impressively have their heads above water.

“All in all, it’s a clean sheet. It’s three unbeaten. It’s another point to the tally. And it’s the end of a very long week,” Smith said.